Honestly, if you’ve been cruising through the Serpent Starway and suddenly find yourself staring at a massive, shackled robot hunkered down in the ocean, you've hit one of the most memorable levels in the game. Free Big Brother Astro Bot isn't just a standard platforming gauntlet; it’s a multi-phase rescue mission that shifts from a stormy, rainy beach to a sunny tropical paradise once you actually do the work. It’s also home to some of the craftiest collectible placements in the third nebula.
You’ve got seven bots to find and three puzzle pieces, but let’s be real—most people get stuck trying to figure out the secret exit or missing that one bot tucked away under a glass floor.
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Breaking the Chains: Phase One
When you first land, everything is gloomy. The "Big Brother" robot is held down by four massive glowing shackles. You can’t just ignore these; they are the literal key to progressing the level and changing the entire environment.
The first two shackles are on his left arm. You'll see blue wall arrows that let you climb up high to reach the one on his shoulder. Just punch it until it shatters. The second one is right there on his wrist. Once you break those, you’ll need to deal with the other side.
Pro tip: while you're running around this initial stormy area, don't just rush the objective. There's a bot cowering from a slime enemy on a stone pillar right in front of Big Brother’s head. If you jump off that pillar and look for a hollow tree trunk, you’ll snag your first puzzle piece.
The Secret Exit (Don't Miss This)
A lot of players breeze through and realize later they missed the Lost Galaxy entrance. It’s actually right at the start.
Turn around the second you land on the beach. You’ll see some ruins in the water. Swim over there and a guitar-playing alien shows up—this guy is basically a lightning rod. You’ll notice two floor panels with electric bolt symbols. The trick is to stand on them to bait the alien into striking, then jump away at the last second. Do this for both, and a secret door opens, leading you to the Ghouls and Bots level.
Hunting Bots in Paradise
Once those four locks are smashed, Big Brother stands up, the sun comes out, and the level opens up. This is where things get a bit more vertical.
- The Bird Bot: Look for a bird bot flying around with a rope hanging from it. You need to jump and grab that rope. It’ll carry you over to a platform where a bot is being guarded by enemies.
- The Glass Floor: After the bird ride, you’ll hit an area with breakable glass floors. Don't just run across. There’s a nook on the right where you can use your laser boost (double-tap X) to break through. This leads to a hidden trampoline and, eventually, a bot inspired by Siren (the Slumbering Girl).
- The Sand Circle: Right on the shore near the end of the beach section, look for a blue cross in the sand inside a circle. Do a spin attack (hold Square) to dig. There's a bot literally buried there.
Climbing the Giant
The final stretch involves Big Brother actually helping you out. He’ll raise a massive sea structure from the depths for you to climb. It feels epic, but stay focused. As you climb, look for a bot hanging onto his neck—it’s easy to miss if you’re just looking at the platforms.
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You’ll eventually reach a clamshell area. Keep an eye out for a bot stuck in a bubble near some electric enemies. Use your jump lasers to clear the floor safely because the platforms here can be pretty thin.
Actionable Steps for 100% Completion
To make sure you aren't replaying this level three times, follow this checklist:
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- Check behind you immediately to trigger the lightning alien for the secret exit.
- Clear the beach bots before breaking the fourth shackle; it's just easier to see them without the giant moving around.
- Use the laser jump to scout for breakable glass. If a floor looks different, it probably is.
- Watch the bird's flight path. It doesn't just circle; it leads you directly to the higher cliff bots.
By the time you reach the end, Big Brother will give you a hand up to the final platform. It’s a satisfying finish to one of the most creative levels in the Serpent Starway. Just make sure you’ve got all seven bots before you hop on the final bird, or you’ll be doing the whole climb again.